Random Romance Storiesby MisagoChaptersVenting (Fleur de Lis/Princess Cadance, Sad)Valentines 1 (Fleur de Lis/Princess Celestia)Mothers? (Rarity/Twilight)Hide (Fluttershy/Princess Cadance)How we spent Hearts and Hooves Day (Chrysalis/Celestia, Fleur/Cadance, Rarity/Luna, Twilight/?)Seduction in the name of Harmony (Fleur de Lis x A whole lot of innuendo)Paint (Rarity/Twilight)Cuddles (Twilight/Fluttershy)Venting (Fleur de Lis/Princess Cadance, Sad)Cadance felt like a coward. Here she was, the empress of the Crystal Empire, the alicorn of love, hiding under her blanket like a foal. With her legs and wings pulled as close as she could, trying to be as small and unnoticeable as possible. Pathetic. Aunt Celestia would be ashamed, seeing her like this. Under this blanket, it was warm. A bit difficult to breathe, but if she left a tiny opening to poke her muzzle through now and then, that was not a problem. She was supposed to be a grown mare. A ruler. A leader of thousands of ponies who entrusted her with their lives. How was she supposed to bear this responsibility? She felt her heart pound and that specific tightness that made it hard to breathe. Desperate, she tried to relax her posture somewhat, without abandoning her protective curl. She was just so tired. She knew she had meetings to attend. Paperwork to do. Decisions to make. But everything inside her told her to rest. Maybe she could just fall asleep for a couple weeks. Wake up to see if the problems had disappeared. Probably not. “Cadance? Are you alright, mon coeur?” Fleur’s voice cut through the silence. Cadance stilled at once, desperately holding her breath. Please don’t notice me. Please… don’t see me like this. She heard the soft clop of hooves closing in at a measured pace. There really was no way for Fleur to miss the big, ugly lump in their shared bed. She felt Fleur’s presence on the mattress. A short rush of cold air, and then the familiar scent and warmth of her beloved wrapped around Cadance. Even as tears began to fall unrestrained, Cadance felt safer than every blanket could make her feel. “Take a break, Cadence:” Fleur whispered, and Cadance closed her eyes, concentrating wholly on the feeling of the forelegs hugging her close to her beloved. “It’s going to be okay. No matter what happens, I’ll be here for you.” “Fleur… I’m sorry…,” Cadance choked out, but got interrupted by Fleur leaning in and kissing her softly on the lips. “Shh, everything is good. You have nothing to apologize for.” The unicorn snuggled in close. “Rest for now. I will watch over you, and make sure you will be refreshed and revitalized later.” She pulled the blanket down a bit to free both their heads. “And later, I will help you with your work. As much as you can handle, yes?” “Thank you…” Cadance murmured, but sleep was already starting to claim her. And so, in the embrace of her beloved, her breathing became calm, and soon turned into the soft rhythm of deep sleep. Fleur followed soon after her. By her side, as she always was. Valentines 1 (Fleur de Lis/Princess Celestia)Fleur de Lis didn't have much relationship experience. This would undoubtedly have come as surprise to anyone who had seen her, talked to her, or even knew about the droves of mares and stallions who would jump at the chance to just have a single date with Equestria's most famous top model. Which was, oddly enough, exactly the problem. For the longest time in her life, Fleur had simply not been interested in an actual relationship. Not that she hadn't genuinely enjoyed the company of her partners. She just hadn't been willing to tie herself down to a single pony. She had made this clear to every pony she shared a few days or just a single night with. There had been a few arrangements that had taken a bit longer. Fleur remembered fondly a month spend on tour with Sapphire Shores, or a dozen charming evenings with a famous canterlotian cellist. But even then, everything had ended without her looking back. Then she had met Celestia. Of course, she had met PRINCESS Celestia before. Fleur was often invited to high-society events, and she'd had her fair share of small talk with both of the royal sisters. But this single unexpected event, meeting Celestia in a rare moment of... candor... And here she was, at the end of a journey spanning six months, the most exciting six months in her entire life. Here she was, in Celestia's lavishly decorated living quarters, and she was anxious. Thankfully, Hearts and Hooves day was an official holiday, so court hours were short. Even then, the evening seemed to stretch like taffy as Fleur alternated between fidgeting, walking circles around the room and just sitting still with frantically beating heart, waiting for the clock to strike six. She was so focussed on the clock and occasionally her own heartbeat that she never noticed the soft tap of hooves setting down on the balcony behind her. And so, when Celestia softly called her name, Fleur jumped up as if the pillow had just bitten her. "Princess above! You scared me!" she cried, while Celestia looked equal parts amused and apologetic. "I thought it was your sister who is supposed to be the sneaky one!" "Well, dear Fleur, you were distracted. I never meant to sneak up on you." Celestia said, smiling. "What has the poor clock done to you, in any case? Or were you waiting for someone?" She splayed her wings invitingly. "Why, yes. A mean princess who is trying to give me a heart attack!" Fleur shot back, giving the best mock-hurt look she could. "Such a shame. And here I hoped you would be available to join me today." Celestia shook her wings a little. Fleur could not keep herself from remembering how wonderful it felt to be wrapped up in those wings, safely cocooned by feathers and the wonderfully soft fur, while her head was craned up to meet soft and warm lips... Usually, it was a matter of pride for her to "win" their occasional banter, but today, Fleur found herself just a little bit unwilling to deprive herself of the closeness she so craved. She reached Celestia in two steps and was quickly enveloped in the warmth and scent of her beloved. "I missed you, mon ange," she breathed as the overwhelming feeling of... happiness filled her whole body to the brim. She wondered since when it had been that being away from Celestia always carried a certain sense of... coldness. It wasn't that she was unhappy, but whenever they were apart, there was just something missing. Fleur had never known how addictive mere physical contact was. "I have missed you as well." Celestia leaned down to nuzzle Fleur, while her wing gently stroked her back. With some of her past dalliances, Fleur had been happy to just stay close to them while doing something else. Listening to music, reading a book, napping... but with Celestia, she was happy to just stay here, just enjoying her presence and thinking about nothing else than her. She just let her thoughts wander freely, as her imagination and memory both seemed happy to show her a collection of past and possible Celestias. Smiling and sad, happy and angry, seductive and flustered. Celestia from afar, the regal princess, as she skillfully guided Equestria through rough political climate. Celestia the sister, joking and laughing with Luna. Celestia the friend, enjoying conversation with her former student and her friends, bantering and teasing with Fleur or trusted maids. And Celestia the lover. Intimate moments that were Fleur's, and Fleur's alone. Celestia looking down at her in the night, eyes shining in the moonlight. Celestia relaxed, eyes closed, blissfully enjoying Fleur's touches. There really was only one thing to say. "I love you." "I love you too." Mothers? (Rarity/Twilight)It was a quiet evening at Carousel Boutique, home and workplace of Ponyville’s premier fashionista. Outside, the winter wind was blowing, bringing large amounts of the first snow that would, come morning, delight every foal and young-minded adult. But for now, many just enjoyed being in their warm houses, nursing hot beverages and enjoying the comfortable closeness of friends and family members. So did the three ponies currently lounging around on thick blankets spread around the Carousel Boutique living room. Rarity, the aforementioned fashionista, was busy thinking up plans for her new winter clothing line, or at least that was what she sat down here to do. However, more often than not, she was distracted, smiling warmly at the two other ponies sharing the blankets with her. Just a few months ago, Rarity had asked her good friend Twilight Sparkle for a favor. The young princess was still waiting for full-time royal duties to attend to, so after the third time of rereading the entire library of the new castle, Rarity had resolved to find something for Twilight to occupy her time with. As luck would have it, Sweetie Belle started to use her magic at about the same time, and since Rarity herself was highly specialized in her spell use and telekinesis control, she had asked Twilight to teach her sister. Twilight, of course, had taken to it like a fish to water, and after a brief letter exchange with Princess Celestia, she managed to be a kind and patient teacher, and Sweetie Belle’s ability soon blossomed, to the point that she was seriously considering enrolling at the Canterlot Academy, or even a personal, long-time student of Twilight. While they tended to meet at the castle, where there was no lack of training equipment, literature and open space to practice, sometimes Rarity invited Twilight over to dinner, or just to watch Sweetie Belle in her lessons. The sight of her sister eagerly absorbing every word Twilight spoke, and the proud glow on the young alicorn’s face made her feel warm in a way she could not really explain. This evening, however, Sweetie Belle was obviously already tired. Rarity had to hold back a giggle at the young unicorn constant blinking, trying and failing at paying attention while laying next to Twilight, listening to the soothing voice of the alicorn reciting magical formulae. Finally, the exhaustion proved too much, and Sweetie Belle stumbled, bleary eyed and yawning, against Twilight’s barrel, burying herself into the lavender coat. Surprised, Twilight interrupted her lecture, and almost by instinct, her wing unfolded, embracing Sweetie Belle beneath a snug feathery blanket. She shot an apologetic look over to Rarity, who was still watching the scene, enthralled. “I’m sorry”, Twilight whispered. “Was I getting too boring?” Rarity was quick to reassure her friend, though. “Don’t worry, darling. It is getting rather late, and Sweetie should probably get some sleep. You know she soaks up everything you say like a sponge.” Twilight blushed at the praise, drawing a broader smile from Rarity. “Do you think we should bring her to bed, then?” Twilight asked, studying the dozing foal beneath her wing. She craned her neck, nudging Sweetie softly with her nose. Apparently still half-sleeping, Sweetie Belle reacted, curling into a ball, and drowsily murmured. “‘Kay, mom.” A second later what she had said, and who she had said it to, made its way to Sweetie Belle’s mind. Her eyes shot open and her cheeks turned bright red. “No, that’s not what I wanted to say!”, she wailed. “Please believe me, Twilight. I did not want to call you…” Rarity’s laughter interrupted Twilight’s stuttering attempts to reassure her student. “Sweetie Belle…”, the fashionista began, trying in vain to keep her voice serious, “Do you have something to say to us? Should I tell mom you are already replacing her?” “Well, if you would stop looking at each other like mom and dad do, I wouldn’t think of you two as…” She trailed off, the stunned faces of her sister and teacher telling her what she just said. Quickly, she turned around and galloped away. Twilight and Rarity could hear her going up the stairs. An awkward silence settled on the living room. Both remaining ponies did their best not to make eye contact, the embarrassment still palpable. At last, Twilight cleared her throat. “Uh,” she began eloquently. She had thought about this. Just reassure Rarity, laugh at the idea of the two of them having a child together. But when she reached the last thought, a different image entered her mind. A hospital. A long wait, impatiently staring at a door. A doctor. A patient room. Rarity lying on the bed, her elegant violet curls in disarray, a small bundle in her forelegs. “She has your eyes.” Rarity was not faring much better. The image of Twilight, wings gently covering a foal, a warm, motherly smile on her muzzle, was back, fresh and vivid. Well, it was not like they were a couple. And a foal would only be something to plan once they had settled a bit more. Maybe after marriage, or at the very least moving in together. “But for that to happen, we’d have to start dating first…” Rarity did not even realize she had spoken her last thought out loud. They both looked up at the same time, and their eyes met. Hide (Fluttershy/Princess Cadance)“You should all be ashamed of yourself. Now go away and leave her alone!” ~#~ Deep breath. Count to three. Rinse and repeat. It took Fluttershy not as long as she would have feared. Considering that usually, the mere thought of telling off a whole crowd of unfamiliar ponies, especially very determined tabloid reporters, would have made her curl up into a ball in the deepest cave she could find. The thought of them staring at her, asking questions, scaring her animals… And yet, here she stood victorious. In fact, the wonderful feeling of relief, of having come out of a scary situation unscathed was accompanied by a not insignificant sense of accomplishment. She had faced something that caused her a great deal of panic, and not only that -- she had actually defeated it! The sound of sobbing behind her reminded Fluttershy why all this had been necessary in the first place. She turned towards the sound, the pink alicorn dragging herself into the room. Cadance was a miserable sight. Her usually perfectly styled mane was a mess, her wings were hanging limp at her side. Tears were running down her cheeks. “Y-you… you chased them off,” she managed to choke out, in between further sobs and hiccups. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I did this to you…” Fluttershy was by her side immediately. She picked up a handkerchief in her mouth, dabbing at Cadance’s wet cheeks. “There, there”, she murmured around the fabric, making sure her lips made sporadic contact. She lifted her own wings, framing Cadance’s face, softly caressing it. In moments like this, she realized how bad she was with words. She wanted to tell Cadance that it was alright, that she was happy with having done something for her. How much she wished to calm her down, make her smile and laugh again. How much she loved her. The words would not come, but luckily, Fluttershy had other options available. She began to hum, a wordless, soothing melody that reminded her of home, of safety. She moved up to Cadance, drawing her wings up to embrace the still-sobbing alicorn. When she felt the sobs subside, she upped the ante, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to Cadance's cheek. This finally managed to draw a somewhat-choked, but genuine chuckle out of Cadance. "Thank you," she whispered, voice hoarse from crying. "I love you." "I love you too". It was surprisingly easy. Usually, Fluttershy felt embarrassed, opening up her heart like this, but in this moment, it was easy. With Cadance soothed and herself actually proud of herself for once, her heart pounding with excitement, it felt right to take charge for once. Fluttershy gently led Cadance to the sofa and laid down next to her, for once not hesitating to touch her, and kissed her cheek. Then, boldly, her lips. They lay there, lost in their world. For now, there were no tabloid reporters harassing them with rumors and insinuations. No shyness kept them apart, no hesitations prevented them from expressing their affection freely.. For once, Fluttershy was the one who pulled Cadance closer, forelegs and wings both wrapped around her princess. “What happened?”, she asked gently. She felt Cadance exhale. “They saw us. Apparently, there is a photo from the palace garden. From last week.” The palace garden had been one of their regular meeting places. A secluded spot, highly secure with stationed guards and patrols, private enough for a princess in what was known as a loving marriage to her husband to meet her lover. Fluttershy enjoyed the aviary and the pavilion next to the lake. Cadance enjoyed hearing Fluttershy sing with the birds and cuddling her while looking out over the shimmering depths. Fluttershy shuddered involuntarily. It had taken her long enough to get come to terms with the fact that her close friends knew. For someone to just intrude on them like this… “Shining and I, we both knew we could not keep hiding forever,” Cadance continued. “I just… I should have been more careful. Now everyone is gonna find out, and it is my fault.” A new bout of sobs wracked Cadance’s body. Fluttershy tightened her embrace slightly, nuzzling Cadance, stroking her wings up and down her back. They should all have known better. It all started on the day before what for all intents and purposes looked like a real dream wedding. The princess, the captain of the guard… it seemed like something straight out of a fairy tale. After the changeling invasion had been defeated, she had met the real Cadance the night before the actual wedding. Fluttershy had retreated to the garden at night, to enjoy the company of the nocturnal birds the Canterlot Palace Gardens were famous for. Cadance had caught her singing. The mortification she felt soon gave way to tentative curiosity as they got talking. They had spent a wonderful night together, talking about this and that, and only after they had said their goodbyes, Fluttershy realized two things. First, she was attracted to that mare. It was not full-blown love back then, but it was there, and hard to ignore. Second, the mare she was crushing on was going to get married the next day. She’d cried that night. This was the first time she felt romantic affection for someone, and it had apparently ended before she had been able to do anything about it. At night, she had returned to the gardens, and Cadance had been waiting there for her. The talk they had that night was significantly more important. About a princess who loved mares instead of stallions, who could not use goddess status as an excuse to ward off unwanted suitors. Who had a best friend in a similar situation, and who came up with the idea to pretend-date said friend so both of them would be left alone. Until the the machinations of a changeling queen and the resulting drop of public morale forced their hooves. The princess was not as diplomatically experienced as her aunts, but she had known that the anticipated wedding being canceled combined with the worry and paranoia over the changelings could do lasting damage to Equestria... So they had decided to keep up the bluff. And how, in a twist of fate both fortunate and terrible, said princess had met the mare of her dreams the night before her fake wedding. She was the Princess of Love -- she could only follow her heart. It took a while for the tears to stop falling this time, but Fluttershy was used to dealing with grief like this. Cadance herself had been there for her so often, comforting her with her warmth, her kisses, her affectionate words, and Fluttershy returned the favor now. “I should have had more restraint,” Cadance finally said, when she had regained most of her composure. “You, Shining, his coltfriend… now you’re all in the spotlight because of my selfishness. He warned me, you know.” She had to swallow harshly. “He warned me that I would get you into trouble if I kept acting like a teenager in love. And now you are, and I am the one responsible when the reporters don’t leave you alone and I should probably just break up with y…” Fluttershy silenced her with a hoof on her lips. “No, Cadance,” she said firmly. The rising feeling of conviction was nice, and Fluttershy embraced it. “You, of all ponies, should never apologize for following your heart. Maybe you were careless, but you love me, don’t you?” There was that spike of doubt that always came with this thought. Could the wonderful Princess Cadance really love her, a rather shy and reclusive pegasus spending most of her time taking care of animals? But Fluttershy fought it this time. She’d faced the reporters, and she would not let Cadance crucify herself now. “And I love you, too.” She smiled at Cadance looking at her with an awestruck expression. “I want to be with you, and if I have to… I’ll face those reporters every day from now on.” She wanted to go on, but now she was the one silenced when Cadance surged forward to kiss her. There were still tears, yes, but these tears, Fluttershy thought, she could let pass. The warmth she was feeling now had nothing to do with facing fears or determination to help someone. She loved someone, she was loved. “I’m gonna do it,” Cadance whispered as they finally parted. “I’m going to tell them that I love you, as soon as you are ready. I need to talk it through with Shining, of course, because my coming out might force his hoof as well. And I know it’s not going to be easy to get there... “ She took a deep breath. “But, if you want to… I’d like another wedding. A real one, this time.” Fluttershy was often lost for words. Usually, it happened out of fear, or just so she would not be a nuisance. She had made peace with it, and was thus content to keep quiet in those situations. She could not remember ever having been shocked speechless, though. She tried to say something, but she had no idea what. How could she ever match the feeling behind Cadance’s statement? But the torrent of bubbling excitement rising through her chest let her know that the answer was clear. Part of her mind was telling her what that would mean. Scrutiny from a lot of ponies, and a lot of animosity. There would be those who would not accept Princess Cadance marrying a mare, even if she was a former element bearer. Standing with Cadance would mean a huge responsibility. “Yes” Cadance was on her in a second, pulling her into a tight hug. Fluttershy could feel the trembling, and she knew very well that she herself was not far from it herself. She’d just accepted a proposal. She would marry this wonderful mare, come what may. She nestled deeper into Cadance’s coat, trying to keep her tears in check. She felt… strong. It was not a familiar feeling for Fluttershy, but at least for now, she felt invulnerable. Not just safe and protected in Cadance’s embrace, but actually able to face whatever challenge would come her way. Eventually, Cadance relaxed, her breathing becoming steadier. The day’s emotional exhaustion having finally caught up with her. Fluttershy craned her neck to press a kiss to her forehead. Together with the sleeping Cadance, she carefully lowered herself onto the couch. With a last fleeting thought of two mares in white happily walking down the aisle, cheered on by their friends and relatives, off towards their future together, Fluttershy closed her eyes and followed her lover to the land of dreams. How we spent Hearts and Hooves Day (Chrysalis/Celestia, Fleur/Cadance, Rarity/Luna, Twilight/?)“How we spent Hearts and Hooves day?” Celestia repeated, looking back at Twilight with a knowing look on her face. They were sitting in Celestia’s private living room, a table filled with the usual assortment of baked goods and a teapot, held warm by Celestia’s magic. Next to her mentor (or rather half-draped over her), Queen Chrysalis regarded Twilight with a half-open eye while Celestia gently stroked her turquoise mane with a free hoof. Chrysalis chuckled quietly. “I believe I can tell you something about that”, she drawled, arching her back against her lover like an overgrown cat. “You see, your precious, precious mentor would like you to believe that all we two do behind closed doors is have tea and exchange the occasional chaste kiss.” Her smile broadened, taking in the instant color change on the youngest alicorn’s muzzle. “Oh yes, you know exactly where this is going. Anyways, as I was saying, as soon as Tia woke me up with a good-morning kiss -- and what a kiss it was, let me tell you -- she immediately went at me below the blankets. Not that I can blame her.” She blew an imaginary dust speck off her hoof. “Dear Tia always acts like she is a worldly mare, with the whole “sexy princess” air she has going on. But look at her now. Blushing like a young bride.” Celestia managed to keep her composure, even though a slight blush was evident on her features. “Chrysalis, do we really have to go through this again?” Chrysalis ignored her. “Anyways, as I was saying. Once you get her going, what she lacks in technique she makes up for with enthusiasm. Goddess, she is amazing with her mouth.” With half-lidded eyes she looked to the now even more blushing but still straight-faced alicorn and let out a low growl. “Almost makes me wish I was her student. Ooh, the tongue-lashing she could give me…” Silence. “She teleported away.” Celestia sighed, booping Chrysalis on the head. “Why must you make this so difficult, love? You could have just told her we had a tickle fight, and then you brought a cake you made.” She looked down at Chrysalis, who was looking at her almost shyly. “Of course. We can’t forget that your ego is the only thing that rivals how big of a cuddle bug you are.” She leaned down, kissing Chrysalis on the nose. “You know you will pay for that tongue-lashing joke, don’t you?” “Ooh, it was just amazing! You never guess what Cadance did for me.” Fleur looked around conspiratorially, before leaning in close to Twilight. “She brought me breakfast to bed! Not only that, she made it herself! And you know how reluctant she is to show off her cooking skills.” She sighed with pleasure. “By which you mean that there are no skills to show off.” Cadance stepped closer, a tray of milk tea and cookies floating behind her. She leaned down to kiss Fleur on the cheek, who responded with a little giggle that elicited a fond smile from Cadance. “I tried, and Fleur told me she liked it, but I doubt it was even remotely edible.” “Nonsense, ma petit equine! It was delightful! A simple meal, seasoned with love, garnished with the most beautiful mare in in all of the known kingdoms. A queen dare not dream about a feast like this!” Fleur paused for dramatic effect, while Cadance poured tea for Twilight. “But it did not end there! You see, there are always evil ponies jealous of my fortune, and they took my beloved away from me.” “...By which she means I had court business to attend to. My assistant generously offered up her day off in order to finish up that trade treaty…” “Bravely, I gave chase, finding her captured and guarded. But I would not let that detain me!” Fleur lept to her feet, striking a warrior’s pose, foreleg lifted, looking towards the horizon. “I fought like a mare maddened, and in the end, my love for my empress allowed me to triumph.” “...I’m actually impressed she could convince the guards to go along with her little play. And my assistant is really bad at acting, but she tried, bless her heart. She’s really earned her vacation…” Fleur sashayed up to Cadance, looking at her wife with seductive gaze. “And what a wonderful prize I got”, she purred, swishing her tail over Cadance’s prone form. “A kiss that a heroine deserves, oh my. And then we went out to dinner at that lovely neightalian restaurant that had just opened.” “... I couldn’t risk my heroine falling victim to another one of my cooking attempts.” Cadance coughed, a light blush sneaking its way on her cheeks. “And let’s say that Fleur really knows how to “dress to impress”” Fleur had nuzzled up to Cadance now, whispering something in french that Twilight could not make out, but which drew another giggle from Cadance. So engrossed where they that neither of them saw the flash of magic light, or noticed the absence of a certain visitor until quite a while later. “Why are you asking, Twilight Sparkle? Hearts and Hooves day just passed, so unless you are preparing a year in advance, is this not a bit late?” “Luna, darling, I believe the pony, I mean person, our dear Twilight is preparing to woo is living in the world behind the mirror portal. And she told me they celebrate on a different day. I suppose it is coming up soon?” Twilight nodded. Her third stop was the Canterlot Palace astronomy tower to visit Luna and Rarity. They were taking their usual evening stargazing-and-gossip time. Rarity smiled at the memories. “Luna was a real gentlemare”, she said, throwing her lover a smoldering gaze. “She picked me up in an amazing dress -- one of my own design, even -- and took me to the top of the Canterhorn. She had a wonderful picnic prepared and… Goodness, I had never heard you sing before. Luna, why did you keep your wonderful voice a secret for so long?” Luna smiled a bit uncertainly. “I… do not trust my voice enough to sing alone. Sometimes, I sing with my sister, a tradition we kept from long ago.” Her smile faltered. Rarity nuzzled her, soothing her through gentle caresses. “I’m sorry, my darling. I truly do think that you sound exceptionally beautiful” , she murmured. “Not that I would mind having that particular ability of yours all to myself…” She leaned in close, pressing a little kiss to Luna’s neck, drawing a little sigh from the alicorn. But before things could escalate, Twilight cleared her throat. Luna and Rarity flinched in perfect synchrony. “Ah, terribly sorry, darling. Be that as it may, we spent a wonderful evening together. Luna kept me warm with her wing, she took me on a little flight over the city…” Another blissful sigh. “And then we returned home.” Luna scraped her hoof and turned away a bit awkwardly. “Anything else”, Rarity said, “We leave to your imagination.” “Do you believe we could be of assistance?”, Luna mused after Twilight had departed. “I fear she was still as distraught as before we spoke to her.” “Don’t worry about her, Luna. Twilight is a smart mare, and she will surely figure it out.” She mock-fainted, allowing Luna to gently cradle her with a wing, laying her down by her side. She smiled. “After all, we both took our time as well.” Twilight finished the last line, lifting her quill with a little flourish. Satisfied, she looked over her neat handwriting. She regretted somewhat not being able to leave clearer instructions, but she was sure had done her best with the information she had received. Was it weird to help a villain you reformed ask out a girl that was sort of your alternate self? Twilight would have to discuss that with someone. She thought about her fellow princesses. They had all found love in unusual places. And yet, they were happy. Not just satisfied, but but truly, from-the-bottom-of-their-hearts happy. Princess Celestia and Queen Chrysalis. Princess Cadance and Fleur de lis. Princess Luna and Rarity. Princess Twilight Sparkle and… She smiled. “Are you coming?” She closed the book, feeling the slight ripple of magic as it send Twilight’s writing to a similar book, far off in another world. “Sorry, I had to finish this.” She carefully adjusted her dress, feeling a bit self-conscious, like she always did in formal wear. But as she turned and took in the “pony” waiting for her... Adagio was not very firm on her hooves. It was, after all, her first foray into being a pony, and so she kept rather close to walls and railings for support. And most of the day, her grimace told the world what exactly she thought about walking on legs. Something she had done for Twilight. “What?” Adagio huffed in annoyance as she noticed Twilight watching her. “Let’s get to the table before I destroy something. I have no idea how you ponies manage this many legs at once.” Twilight hesitated, but she knew she did not have to be afraid. “You’re beautiful.” she said fondly. Adagio’s grimace quivered, and the siren-turned-human-turned-pony could not suppress a little smile. “You’ve become quite the flirt lately. And to think that not too long ago you’d nearly faint from a little kiss.” She turned away, waiting for Twilight to come up next to her. When she did, she allowed Twilight to drape a wing over her back, leaning in slightly herself. Twilight nuzzled into the beautiful mass of mane. “It’s all thanks to you, Adagio.” She leaned forward, and Adagio met her in a kiss. They took a while before they parted. “I love you.” Adagio’s lips met hers again, sweet and gentle. “Love you too, Princess.” Together, they slowly made their way towards the dining room, towards a nice candlelight dinner, with some cuddling and reading as dessert. “Just so we’re clear: after this, we’re spending next year underwater.” Twi smiled. “I’m looking forward to it.” Seduction in the name of Harmony (Fleur de Lis x A whole lot of innuendo)“Thank you, Raven. That will be all.” The door closed behind Celestia’s assistant, and the royal sisters were alone in Celestia’s study. Three pillows had been arranged around the low table, which held three sets of fine ceramic cups and saucers, along with a small plate and dessert fork. In the middle of the table was a mouth-watering strawberry cheesecake and a rather large teapot, from which a pleasant scent of jasmine wafted. Celestia took a deep breath and smiled. “Ms. Goodness really outdid herself with this one,” she sighed happily as she took in the smell of her favorite cake. Just the anticipation of the first bite made her giddy. Luna shook her head at her. “It is no wonder our subjects call you “cake-devil,” sister. If it weren’t for the sun sapping your energy, I’d wager you would be as round as my moon right now!” “Oh, hush. I have a stressful job, and I deserve all the relaxation I can get. And good food,” she pointedly cut a piece from the cake with a burst of magic, “is one of the highest pleasures there is.” “If you say so, sister. Perhaps I have gotten the wrong impression that you spend your day manipulating others into doing your work for you.” Luna followed the piece of cake with her eyes, as Celestia floated it to Luna’s plate. She, in turn, levitated the teapot towards her sister’s cup, who gratefully dipped her head as Luna poured the tea. “Now, before you lose yourself in your cake, tell me more about this mysterious spymaster of yours.” Celestia took a long sip from her cup. “She is… not a typical spymaster,” she said, after a few moments. “In fact, if I had not shown you her record, you would probably not expect her to be capable in clandestine operations at all.” Luna nodded her approval. If a spymaster seemed like a “typical” spymaster, they probably weren’t very good at their job. And she had always preferred the females of her batwing elite as her spies. They tended to get underestimated, something which could give an advantage at the most crucial times. She had looked at the record, and there had been one thing that had intrigued her. “Her records do speak for themselves. But, sister, if you allow, why is she only deployed against female targets? Would her male colleague not be better suited for most of them?” Celestia sighed, somewhat exasperatedly this time. “That is one of her… quirks. In fact, I believe...” She was interrupted by a knock on the door. “Well, here she is now,” she said. And louder, “Come in, Fleur!” The door opened, and in stepped a goddess of a mare. Her coat was white, with just the slightest hint of rosè, and her soft, silky mane was a light pink. She was tall, nearly matching the most imposing stallions of the royal guard. Her body was svelte, though, with just the barest hint of well-toned muscle, the kind that Luna associated with gymnasts and dancers. Luna could see how this mare could gain entrance to every heart and bed she desired. And yet, her gaze was open and honest, in a way that did not seem fake to Luna. Sure, technically, it was possible that the mare was being deceitful even now. But she looked like the kind of mare who wanted to enjoy life, and loved the world around her. The mare sauntered closer, closing in on Celestia without hesitation. “Hello, Fleur,” Celestia said, “I’m glad that you could m--” She did not get further, as Fleur leaned in and gave her a slightly-more-than-just-polite kiss on the cheek. Luna raised her eyebrow. Usually, she, Cadance and Twilight were the only ponies who Celestia allowed close to her, but... Celestia actually smiled! She flicked her wing playfully against the mare, who giggled and retreated a half-step. The last noble who had attempted to kiss Celestia without asking had spent his next few months in the hospital! “A pleasure as always, my princess,” Fleur replied, bowing deeply. She smiled at Celestia, then turned her attention to the other alicorn in the room. Luna quickly got up, prepared to widen the distance, but Fleur merely bowed to her deeply, not even raising her eyes to look at the princess. It was a surprising adherence to rarely-enforced protocol. This mare knew what she was doing. “Luna, meet Fleur de lis. Model and Royal Spymaster of the Sun. Fleur, this is Princess Luna, my sister.” Protocol was protocol. “It is an honor to meet you, Spymaster. You may rise,” Luna said, inclining her head to acknowledge the bow. “My sister has a high regard for you, and your record is outstanding. I admit I did not expect a famous model to be an agent for the crown.” It was refreshing to meet someone who still knew royal etiquette. After all, Luna had heard that it was a custom in some countries to greet a familiar person with cheek kisses. Fleur languidly rose from her deep bow. Luna watched, enraptured, as the mare shifted her weight to her hindquarters, pulling her entire torso up easily without using her forelegs as support. A subtle ripple ran through Fleur’s body. “It’s an honor to meet you too, your highness. Your sister told me about you in great length. “ Her smile broadened a little. “I am certainly pleased we will be working together more from now on.” “Fleur, I would appreciate if you would not hit on my sister while I am here.” Luna turned her head towards Celestia, brow furrowed. “What are you talking about, sister? She has not struck me at all.” She smiled at Fleur. “I am pleased to be spending more time with you as well. I did not even consider how useful a modelling career would be to disguise your movement among different countries! No one would ever suspect someone in the center of attention to be a spy! And your skill in makeup and clothing allows you to blend in everywhere!” “Thank you, Princess!” Fleur giggled. “I enjoy my job. I get to go on thrilling adventures and meet the most intriguing ponies.” She struck a daring pose, rearing up on her hind legs and angling her forelegs. “And I can do my part for the good of Equestria! Not to mention getting to talk to our charming rulers. Not many ponies can enjoy that particular pleasure.” She fluttered her eyelashes at Celestia. “Fleur! My sister is here!” Fleur landed easily on all fours again. She inclined her head quizzically. “That is not really a problem. In fact, on my recent assignment, I passed through Ponyville, and there is the most lovely pair of twin sisters running the local spa. Can you imagine what they--” Celestia coughed loudly. “Fleur, I am sure this is a wonderful story, but maybe it would be best to postpone it--” “Sister, don’t interrupt her! I want to hear this. Spy stories have always been very interesting to me!” Fleur had just opened her mouth, but a glowing yellow rope tied it shut. “We’ll leave this for another time,” Celestia said firmly, pointedly ignoring Luna’s pout. “We still have business to attend to, and Fleur needs her time. She is a very…” a blush stole onto her muzzle. Just the faintest hint of pink, but Luna caught it nonetheless. “She is a very lively storyteller, and I am sure she has many, ah, interesting stories to tell you at a later time.” Luna was still staring at Celestia. After a couple of seconds of awkwardness, and Celestia releasing Fleur from the rope (the unicorn did a weird purring noise that made Celestia sputter), Luna turned to the model. “My sister is not easily to fluster. If your storytelling manages to achieve this, you must be quite the skilled orator!” This time, Fleur was ready. She leaned to the side, dodging the next rope and skipping a few steps towards Luna. She smirked at the alicorn. “Oh, yes. Not to be a braggart, but mares all across Equestria praise my oral skills.” “Fleur!” “Truely? ‘Tis a feat to be proud of, to have one’s fame spread far across the land. Once upon a time, I had a similar reputation.” Luna nodded sagely. “I would love to match my tongue with yours, if you’d be willing.” “Oh, it would be my pleasure/i], Princess!” “I am sure we can find a fitting date. I would prefer a nightly meeting, if you’d be willing. Maybe we could have some dinner first before moving up to my room.” Fleur leaned in, judging the situation to be appropriate, and touched her head to Luna’s shoulder. “Oh, that sounds marvelous. Feel free to contact me with a date that works best for you. I’ll clear my schedule.” Luna giggled at the contact. “As soon as possible, Fleur de lis.” “Are you two quite done?” Celestia’s voice interrupted the excited exchange. “Fleur, I really wish you’d… This is Saddle Arabia all over again.” Fleur skipped towards her a few steps, crossing her forelegs. “But Princess, that was an accident,” she mock-pouted. “Who could have known that she was watching me while--” “AS I WAS SAYING. Fleur, we have called you today for a very specific reason, and we need to get this out of the way. Everyone in favor? Good.” ~#~ The cheesecake was nearly gone, as was the tea. Fleur was a professional, and she knew when to focus, so the actual meeting went very well. “So, this “Dark Master” is the leader of the cult? Princess, wouldn’t Fancy Pants be the choice to deal with a stallion?” “We believe him to merely be a figurehead. He spends his time posing and telling his followers about his skill and dark, mysterious past. We believe his daughter is the true leader. Officially, she is his advisor, but apparently, all the orders are submitted through her. Our contacts say she is the one to suggest them in the first place. So--” “I’ll take her out, and the cultist should disperse eventually. Perfect!” Fleur clapped her hooves together. “I’ll leave in three days. Maybe she just needs a friend.” Celestia shook her head. “Or maybe she needs something else…” she said quietly, but apparently not quietly enough. Fleurs ears flicked in her direction, but she didn’t say anything. She stood up, turned to the royal sisters, and bowed deeply. “I will take my leave now, Princesses. It was a real pleasure meeting you, Princess Luna. “ She nodded towards the younger sister. “ And, of course, always lovely, Princess Celestia.” She inclined her head, never taking her eyes of the older sister. She turned and pranced towards the door, mane and tail bouncing behind her. Celestia lifted her hoof to her temple. Her poor sister would be in for a surprise. Well. Fleur probably knew what was going on, so she would not do anything untoward. She just hoped it would not ruin Fleur’s standing in Luna’s eyes. She looked over to her sister, who was looking after Fleur thoughtfully. “Oh, one moment, Fleur de lis”, Luna called. Fleur, who had already taken telekinetic hold of the door, ceased her magic and turned around. “I forgot one detail for our meeting. I have been away for a while, and my inventory is not quite up to date. Shall I acquire some of those rubber tools and accessories that are sold in some businesses now?” Celestia’s mouth fell open. “No need, princess. I can bring some of my own, but I much prefer the hooves-on-approach.” Fleur giggled, then blew a kiss towards Luna. “I have a reputation to keep! Ta!” And with that, she was out of the door, leaving an excited Luna and a dumbstruck Celestia in her wake. “You… you knew?” Was all Celestia could stutter after a minute of silence. Luna rolled her eyes. “Of course I knew. She was not really subtle, now, was she. As for you, will you join us on our date, or will you be a spoilsport? Judging from previous patterns, my guess is that you have not been bedded in a few centuries.” “...It was just two centuries,” Celestia admitted meekly. But the thought of her cheeky spymistress in the royal bed, shivering as white and dark blue hooves danced over her perfect… Celestia coughed. “Very well. But if you usurp the little spoon position, there will be political consequences.” Luna just shook her head. “Oh sister. Deep inside, you have always been the little spoon.” Paint (Rarity/Twilight)The scream was bone-chilling. One second, Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, was happily reading a book on the finer points of large scale production technology, the next she was scrambling to her hooves, galloping as fast as she could to the bathroom from where she had heard the familiar voice. When she flung the door open, she was confronted by her beloved wife, Rarity, frantically searching through the cupboard below the sink while feverishly muttering to herself. "Rarity? What happened?", Twilight called. She had noticed Rarity's makeup running, dragging black lines from her eyes over her cheek, a clear sign that the unicorn had been crying. When Rarity noticed Twilight standing in the doorway, she stopped in the middle of her search. Slowly, fearfully, she turned around, and when she saw her wife, her lip started quivering and her eyes filled with tears. "Nooo! You cannot see me like this! I am hideous!" Rarity tried in vain to close the door with her magic, but Twilight held strong. At this pitiful sight, Twilight stepped inside the room, quickly moving over to her wife and drawing her in a hug. "Shh", she whispered, rubbing her hooves over Rarity's back, kissing her cheek. "You are not hideous. You are beautiful and I love you." "Look at this", Rarity screeched, grasping a strand of her hair for Twilight to see. "Grey! My hair is turning grey!" She wrapped her hooves around Twilight, sobbing all the while. "You have to divorce me! A princess cannot be seen with an old hag like me!" Twilight leaned in, examining the strand of hair carefully. She lifted her hoof and nudged the offending grey patch. "A princess should be with someone who can support her! Soon I will be brittle and weak, and you will have to take care of me all the time..." "Rarity..." "You have to start searching for someone who can replace me. I know for a fact that there are dozens of mares who will salivate at the thought of having you for themselves..." "Rarity?" "It will break my heart into a thousand little pieces, but I simply cannot burden you any longer. I will..." "Rarity!" Twilight had to raise her voice to draw her wife's attention, but she succeeded. "This is paint. We passed by the northern gate earlier, and they are painting over a crack in the ceiling!" As proof, she raised her hoof, which had some grey flaky dust drifting of it. For a moment, Rarity went quiet. She looked at the hoof, at her mane, at the hoof again and finally at Twilight. "Just paint?" She asked cautiously. Twilight nodded. "I am not old?" This time, Twilight sighed. "Rarity, you are four hundred and sixteen years old. That would probably qualify you as "ancient": But even if you were still mortal, there is no way I would ever replace you." She moved her head forward slowly and brushed her lips over Rarity's. "And now, love, go to bed." A mischievous grin spread over her muzzle. "Old mares need their sleep." Rarity hit her over the head with a hairbrush. Cuddles (Twilight/Fluttershy)Fluttershy used to think that the company of her animals was all she needed in the evening. She loved her friends, truly, but when the nights grew colder, there was nothing better in the evening than to snuggle up under a blanket, a cup of hot cocoa and one of Rarity’s romance novels in reach, and to enjoy this oasis of warmth and the noise of the animals around the house. But lately, things had changed. A few weeks ago, a brief case of flu had seen Fluttershy bedridden. It had been Twilight who had volunteered to stay over, what with her princess duties being few and far between. Over the couple of days, Fluttershy had grown used to the soft breathing of Twilight, the slight rustle whenever the studious alicorn flipped her page, the little sigh she gave whenever she finished a chapter… Not to mention the warmth. The warmth of another body, the soft coat and feathers brushing her own... She blushed at the thought. “Fluttershy, are you okay?” Twilight half-whispered, closing her book and leaning in closer in concern. The alicorn sat lay next to her on the couch, wing draped over Fluttershy’s back. Fluttershy could not hide a little embarrassed giggle (the feathers tickling her were certainly not helping). Boldy, she leaned a bit closer into the warmth encompassing her, eliciting a blush from her dorky blanket. “Don’t worry, Twilight,” she whispered. “Everything is just perfect.”
Venting (Fleur de Lis/Princess Cadance, Sad)Cadance felt like a coward. Here she was, the empress of the Crystal Empire, the alicorn of love, hiding under her blanket like a foal. With her legs and wings pulled as close as she could, trying to be as small and unnoticeable as possible. Pathetic. Aunt Celestia would be ashamed, seeing her like this. Under this blanket, it was warm. A bit difficult to breathe, but if she left a tiny opening to poke her muzzle through now and then, that was not a problem. She was supposed to be a grown mare. A ruler. A leader of thousands of ponies who entrusted her with their lives. How was she supposed to bear this responsibility? She felt her heart pound and that specific tightness that made it hard to breathe. Desperate, she tried to relax her posture somewhat, without abandoning her protective curl. She was just so tired. She knew she had meetings to attend. Paperwork to do. Decisions to make. But everything inside her told her to rest. Maybe she could just fall asleep for a couple weeks. Wake up to see if the problems had disappeared. Probably not. “Cadance? Are you alright, mon coeur?” Fleur’s voice cut through the silence. Cadance stilled at once, desperately holding her breath. Please don’t notice me. Please… don’t see me like this. She heard the soft clop of hooves closing in at a measured pace. There really was no way for Fleur to miss the big, ugly lump in their shared bed. She felt Fleur’s presence on the mattress. A short rush of cold air, and then the familiar scent and warmth of her beloved wrapped around Cadance. Even as tears began to fall unrestrained, Cadance felt safer than every blanket could make her feel. “Take a break, Cadence:” Fleur whispered, and Cadance closed her eyes, concentrating wholly on the feeling of the forelegs hugging her close to her beloved. “It’s going to be okay. No matter what happens, I’ll be here for you.” “Fleur… I’m sorry…,” Cadance choked out, but got interrupted by Fleur leaning in and kissing her softly on the lips. “Shh, everything is good. You have nothing to apologize for.” The unicorn snuggled in close. “Rest for now. I will watch over you, and make sure you will be refreshed and revitalized later.” She pulled the blanket down a bit to free both their heads. “And later, I will help you with your work. As much as you can handle, yes?” “Thank you…” Cadance murmured, but sleep was already starting to claim her. And so, in the embrace of her beloved, her breathing became calm, and soon turned into the soft rhythm of deep sleep. Fleur followed soon after her. By her side, as she always was.
Valentines 1 (Fleur de Lis/Princess Celestia)Fleur de Lis didn't have much relationship experience. This would undoubtedly have come as surprise to anyone who had seen her, talked to her, or even knew about the droves of mares and stallions who would jump at the chance to just have a single date with Equestria's most famous top model. Which was, oddly enough, exactly the problem. For the longest time in her life, Fleur had simply not been interested in an actual relationship. Not that she hadn't genuinely enjoyed the company of her partners. She just hadn't been willing to tie herself down to a single pony. She had made this clear to every pony she shared a few days or just a single night with. There had been a few arrangements that had taken a bit longer. Fleur remembered fondly a month spend on tour with Sapphire Shores, or a dozen charming evenings with a famous canterlotian cellist. But even then, everything had ended without her looking back. Then she had met Celestia. Of course, she had met PRINCESS Celestia before. Fleur was often invited to high-society events, and she'd had her fair share of small talk with both of the royal sisters. But this single unexpected event, meeting Celestia in a rare moment of... candor... And here she was, at the end of a journey spanning six months, the most exciting six months in her entire life. Here she was, in Celestia's lavishly decorated living quarters, and she was anxious. Thankfully, Hearts and Hooves day was an official holiday, so court hours were short. Even then, the evening seemed to stretch like taffy as Fleur alternated between fidgeting, walking circles around the room and just sitting still with frantically beating heart, waiting for the clock to strike six. She was so focussed on the clock and occasionally her own heartbeat that she never noticed the soft tap of hooves setting down on the balcony behind her. And so, when Celestia softly called her name, Fleur jumped up as if the pillow had just bitten her. "Princess above! You scared me!" she cried, while Celestia looked equal parts amused and apologetic. "I thought it was your sister who is supposed to be the sneaky one!" "Well, dear Fleur, you were distracted. I never meant to sneak up on you." Celestia said, smiling. "What has the poor clock done to you, in any case? Or were you waiting for someone?" She splayed her wings invitingly. "Why, yes. A mean princess who is trying to give me a heart attack!" Fleur shot back, giving the best mock-hurt look she could. "Such a shame. And here I hoped you would be available to join me today." Celestia shook her wings a little. Fleur could not keep herself from remembering how wonderful it felt to be wrapped up in those wings, safely cocooned by feathers and the wonderfully soft fur, while her head was craned up to meet soft and warm lips... Usually, it was a matter of pride for her to "win" their occasional banter, but today, Fleur found herself just a little bit unwilling to deprive herself of the closeness she so craved. She reached Celestia in two steps and was quickly enveloped in the warmth and scent of her beloved. "I missed you, mon ange," she breathed as the overwhelming feeling of... happiness filled her whole body to the brim. She wondered since when it had been that being away from Celestia always carried a certain sense of... coldness. It wasn't that she was unhappy, but whenever they were apart, there was just something missing. Fleur had never known how addictive mere physical contact was. "I have missed you as well." Celestia leaned down to nuzzle Fleur, while her wing gently stroked her back. With some of her past dalliances, Fleur had been happy to just stay close to them while doing something else. Listening to music, reading a book, napping... but with Celestia, she was happy to just stay here, just enjoying her presence and thinking about nothing else than her. She just let her thoughts wander freely, as her imagination and memory both seemed happy to show her a collection of past and possible Celestias. Smiling and sad, happy and angry, seductive and flustered. Celestia from afar, the regal princess, as she skillfully guided Equestria through rough political climate. Celestia the sister, joking and laughing with Luna. Celestia the friend, enjoying conversation with her former student and her friends, bantering and teasing with Fleur or trusted maids. And Celestia the lover. Intimate moments that were Fleur's, and Fleur's alone. Celestia looking down at her in the night, eyes shining in the moonlight. Celestia relaxed, eyes closed, blissfully enjoying Fleur's touches. There really was only one thing to say. "I love you." "I love you too."
Mothers? (Rarity/Twilight)It was a quiet evening at Carousel Boutique, home and workplace of Ponyville’s premier fashionista. Outside, the winter wind was blowing, bringing large amounts of the first snow that would, come morning, delight every foal and young-minded adult. But for now, many just enjoyed being in their warm houses, nursing hot beverages and enjoying the comfortable closeness of friends and family members. So did the three ponies currently lounging around on thick blankets spread around the Carousel Boutique living room. Rarity, the aforementioned fashionista, was busy thinking up plans for her new winter clothing line, or at least that was what she sat down here to do. However, more often than not, she was distracted, smiling warmly at the two other ponies sharing the blankets with her. Just a few months ago, Rarity had asked her good friend Twilight Sparkle for a favor. The young princess was still waiting for full-time royal duties to attend to, so after the third time of rereading the entire library of the new castle, Rarity had resolved to find something for Twilight to occupy her time with. As luck would have it, Sweetie Belle started to use her magic at about the same time, and since Rarity herself was highly specialized in her spell use and telekinesis control, she had asked Twilight to teach her sister. Twilight, of course, had taken to it like a fish to water, and after a brief letter exchange with Princess Celestia, she managed to be a kind and patient teacher, and Sweetie Belle’s ability soon blossomed, to the point that she was seriously considering enrolling at the Canterlot Academy, or even a personal, long-time student of Twilight. While they tended to meet at the castle, where there was no lack of training equipment, literature and open space to practice, sometimes Rarity invited Twilight over to dinner, or just to watch Sweetie Belle in her lessons. The sight of her sister eagerly absorbing every word Twilight spoke, and the proud glow on the young alicorn’s face made her feel warm in a way she could not really explain. This evening, however, Sweetie Belle was obviously already tired. Rarity had to hold back a giggle at the young unicorn constant blinking, trying and failing at paying attention while laying next to Twilight, listening to the soothing voice of the alicorn reciting magical formulae. Finally, the exhaustion proved too much, and Sweetie Belle stumbled, bleary eyed and yawning, against Twilight’s barrel, burying herself into the lavender coat. Surprised, Twilight interrupted her lecture, and almost by instinct, her wing unfolded, embracing Sweetie Belle beneath a snug feathery blanket. She shot an apologetic look over to Rarity, who was still watching the scene, enthralled. “I’m sorry”, Twilight whispered. “Was I getting too boring?” Rarity was quick to reassure her friend, though. “Don’t worry, darling. It is getting rather late, and Sweetie should probably get some sleep. You know she soaks up everything you say like a sponge.” Twilight blushed at the praise, drawing a broader smile from Rarity. “Do you think we should bring her to bed, then?” Twilight asked, studying the dozing foal beneath her wing. She craned her neck, nudging Sweetie softly with her nose. Apparently still half-sleeping, Sweetie Belle reacted, curling into a ball, and drowsily murmured. “‘Kay, mom.” A second later what she had said, and who she had said it to, made its way to Sweetie Belle’s mind. Her eyes shot open and her cheeks turned bright red. “No, that’s not what I wanted to say!”, she wailed. “Please believe me, Twilight. I did not want to call you…” Rarity’s laughter interrupted Twilight’s stuttering attempts to reassure her student. “Sweetie Belle…”, the fashionista began, trying in vain to keep her voice serious, “Do you have something to say to us? Should I tell mom you are already replacing her?” “Well, if you would stop looking at each other like mom and dad do, I wouldn’t think of you two as…” She trailed off, the stunned faces of her sister and teacher telling her what she just said. Quickly, she turned around and galloped away. Twilight and Rarity could hear her going up the stairs. An awkward silence settled on the living room. Both remaining ponies did their best not to make eye contact, the embarrassment still palpable. At last, Twilight cleared her throat. “Uh,” she began eloquently. She had thought about this. Just reassure Rarity, laugh at the idea of the two of them having a child together. But when she reached the last thought, a different image entered her mind. A hospital. A long wait, impatiently staring at a door. A doctor. A patient room. Rarity lying on the bed, her elegant violet curls in disarray, a small bundle in her forelegs. “She has your eyes.” Rarity was not faring much better. The image of Twilight, wings gently covering a foal, a warm, motherly smile on her muzzle, was back, fresh and vivid. Well, it was not like they were a couple. And a foal would only be something to plan once they had settled a bit more. Maybe after marriage, or at the very least moving in together. “But for that to happen, we’d have to start dating first…” Rarity did not even realize she had spoken her last thought out loud. They both looked up at the same time, and their eyes met.
Hide (Fluttershy/Princess Cadance)“You should all be ashamed of yourself. Now go away and leave her alone!” ~#~ Deep breath. Count to three. Rinse and repeat. It took Fluttershy not as long as she would have feared. Considering that usually, the mere thought of telling off a whole crowd of unfamiliar ponies, especially very determined tabloid reporters, would have made her curl up into a ball in the deepest cave she could find. The thought of them staring at her, asking questions, scaring her animals… And yet, here she stood victorious. In fact, the wonderful feeling of relief, of having come out of a scary situation unscathed was accompanied by a not insignificant sense of accomplishment. She had faced something that caused her a great deal of panic, and not only that -- she had actually defeated it! The sound of sobbing behind her reminded Fluttershy why all this had been necessary in the first place. She turned towards the sound, the pink alicorn dragging herself into the room. Cadance was a miserable sight. Her usually perfectly styled mane was a mess, her wings were hanging limp at her side. Tears were running down her cheeks. “Y-you… you chased them off,” she managed to choke out, in between further sobs and hiccups. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I did this to you…” Fluttershy was by her side immediately. She picked up a handkerchief in her mouth, dabbing at Cadance’s wet cheeks. “There, there”, she murmured around the fabric, making sure her lips made sporadic contact. She lifted her own wings, framing Cadance’s face, softly caressing it. In moments like this, she realized how bad she was with words. She wanted to tell Cadance that it was alright, that she was happy with having done something for her. How much she wished to calm her down, make her smile and laugh again. How much she loved her. The words would not come, but luckily, Fluttershy had other options available. She began to hum, a wordless, soothing melody that reminded her of home, of safety. She moved up to Cadance, drawing her wings up to embrace the still-sobbing alicorn. When she felt the sobs subside, she upped the ante, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to Cadance's cheek. This finally managed to draw a somewhat-choked, but genuine chuckle out of Cadance. "Thank you," she whispered, voice hoarse from crying. "I love you." "I love you too". It was surprisingly easy. Usually, Fluttershy felt embarrassed, opening up her heart like this, but in this moment, it was easy. With Cadance soothed and herself actually proud of herself for once, her heart pounding with excitement, it felt right to take charge for once. Fluttershy gently led Cadance to the sofa and laid down next to her, for once not hesitating to touch her, and kissed her cheek. Then, boldly, her lips. They lay there, lost in their world. For now, there were no tabloid reporters harassing them with rumors and insinuations. No shyness kept them apart, no hesitations prevented them from expressing their affection freely.. For once, Fluttershy was the one who pulled Cadance closer, forelegs and wings both wrapped around her princess. “What happened?”, she asked gently. She felt Cadance exhale. “They saw us. Apparently, there is a photo from the palace garden. From last week.” The palace garden had been one of their regular meeting places. A secluded spot, highly secure with stationed guards and patrols, private enough for a princess in what was known as a loving marriage to her husband to meet her lover. Fluttershy enjoyed the aviary and the pavilion next to the lake. Cadance enjoyed hearing Fluttershy sing with the birds and cuddling her while looking out over the shimmering depths. Fluttershy shuddered involuntarily. It had taken her long enough to get come to terms with the fact that her close friends knew. For someone to just intrude on them like this… “Shining and I, we both knew we could not keep hiding forever,” Cadance continued. “I just… I should have been more careful. Now everyone is gonna find out, and it is my fault.” A new bout of sobs wracked Cadance’s body. Fluttershy tightened her embrace slightly, nuzzling Cadance, stroking her wings up and down her back. They should all have known better. It all started on the day before what for all intents and purposes looked like a real dream wedding. The princess, the captain of the guard… it seemed like something straight out of a fairy tale. After the changeling invasion had been defeated, she had met the real Cadance the night before the actual wedding. Fluttershy had retreated to the garden at night, to enjoy the company of the nocturnal birds the Canterlot Palace Gardens were famous for. Cadance had caught her singing. The mortification she felt soon gave way to tentative curiosity as they got talking. They had spent a wonderful night together, talking about this and that, and only after they had said their goodbyes, Fluttershy realized two things. First, she was attracted to that mare. It was not full-blown love back then, but it was there, and hard to ignore. Second, the mare she was crushing on was going to get married the next day. She’d cried that night. This was the first time she felt romantic affection for someone, and it had apparently ended before she had been able to do anything about it. At night, she had returned to the gardens, and Cadance had been waiting there for her. The talk they had that night was significantly more important. About a princess who loved mares instead of stallions, who could not use goddess status as an excuse to ward off unwanted suitors. Who had a best friend in a similar situation, and who came up with the idea to pretend-date said friend so both of them would be left alone. Until the the machinations of a changeling queen and the resulting drop of public morale forced their hooves. The princess was not as diplomatically experienced as her aunts, but she had known that the anticipated wedding being canceled combined with the worry and paranoia over the changelings could do lasting damage to Equestria... So they had decided to keep up the bluff. And how, in a twist of fate both fortunate and terrible, said princess had met the mare of her dreams the night before her fake wedding. She was the Princess of Love -- she could only follow her heart. It took a while for the tears to stop falling this time, but Fluttershy was used to dealing with grief like this. Cadance herself had been there for her so often, comforting her with her warmth, her kisses, her affectionate words, and Fluttershy returned the favor now. “I should have had more restraint,” Cadance finally said, when she had regained most of her composure. “You, Shining, his coltfriend… now you’re all in the spotlight because of my selfishness. He warned me, you know.” She had to swallow harshly. “He warned me that I would get you into trouble if I kept acting like a teenager in love. And now you are, and I am the one responsible when the reporters don’t leave you alone and I should probably just break up with y…” Fluttershy silenced her with a hoof on her lips. “No, Cadance,” she said firmly. The rising feeling of conviction was nice, and Fluttershy embraced it. “You, of all ponies, should never apologize for following your heart. Maybe you were careless, but you love me, don’t you?” There was that spike of doubt that always came with this thought. Could the wonderful Princess Cadance really love her, a rather shy and reclusive pegasus spending most of her time taking care of animals? But Fluttershy fought it this time. She’d faced the reporters, and she would not let Cadance crucify herself now. “And I love you, too.” She smiled at Cadance looking at her with an awestruck expression. “I want to be with you, and if I have to… I’ll face those reporters every day from now on.” She wanted to go on, but now she was the one silenced when Cadance surged forward to kiss her. There were still tears, yes, but these tears, Fluttershy thought, she could let pass. The warmth she was feeling now had nothing to do with facing fears or determination to help someone. She loved someone, she was loved. “I’m gonna do it,” Cadance whispered as they finally parted. “I’m going to tell them that I love you, as soon as you are ready. I need to talk it through with Shining, of course, because my coming out might force his hoof as well. And I know it’s not going to be easy to get there... “ She took a deep breath. “But, if you want to… I’d like another wedding. A real one, this time.” Fluttershy was often lost for words. Usually, it happened out of fear, or just so she would not be a nuisance. She had made peace with it, and was thus content to keep quiet in those situations. She could not remember ever having been shocked speechless, though. She tried to say something, but she had no idea what. How could she ever match the feeling behind Cadance’s statement? But the torrent of bubbling excitement rising through her chest let her know that the answer was clear. Part of her mind was telling her what that would mean. Scrutiny from a lot of ponies, and a lot of animosity. There would be those who would not accept Princess Cadance marrying a mare, even if she was a former element bearer. Standing with Cadance would mean a huge responsibility. “Yes” Cadance was on her in a second, pulling her into a tight hug. Fluttershy could feel the trembling, and she knew very well that she herself was not far from it herself. She’d just accepted a proposal. She would marry this wonderful mare, come what may. She nestled deeper into Cadance’s coat, trying to keep her tears in check. She felt… strong. It was not a familiar feeling for Fluttershy, but at least for now, she felt invulnerable. Not just safe and protected in Cadance’s embrace, but actually able to face whatever challenge would come her way. Eventually, Cadance relaxed, her breathing becoming steadier. The day’s emotional exhaustion having finally caught up with her. Fluttershy craned her neck to press a kiss to her forehead. Together with the sleeping Cadance, she carefully lowered herself onto the couch. With a last fleeting thought of two mares in white happily walking down the aisle, cheered on by their friends and relatives, off towards their future together, Fluttershy closed her eyes and followed her lover to the land of dreams.
How we spent Hearts and Hooves Day (Chrysalis/Celestia, Fleur/Cadance, Rarity/Luna, Twilight/?)“How we spent Hearts and Hooves day?” Celestia repeated, looking back at Twilight with a knowing look on her face. They were sitting in Celestia’s private living room, a table filled with the usual assortment of baked goods and a teapot, held warm by Celestia’s magic. Next to her mentor (or rather half-draped over her), Queen Chrysalis regarded Twilight with a half-open eye while Celestia gently stroked her turquoise mane with a free hoof. Chrysalis chuckled quietly. “I believe I can tell you something about that”, she drawled, arching her back against her lover like an overgrown cat. “You see, your precious, precious mentor would like you to believe that all we two do behind closed doors is have tea and exchange the occasional chaste kiss.” Her smile broadened, taking in the instant color change on the youngest alicorn’s muzzle. “Oh yes, you know exactly where this is going. Anyways, as I was saying, as soon as Tia woke me up with a good-morning kiss -- and what a kiss it was, let me tell you -- she immediately went at me below the blankets. Not that I can blame her.” She blew an imaginary dust speck off her hoof. “Dear Tia always acts like she is a worldly mare, with the whole “sexy princess” air she has going on. But look at her now. Blushing like a young bride.” Celestia managed to keep her composure, even though a slight blush was evident on her features. “Chrysalis, do we really have to go through this again?” Chrysalis ignored her. “Anyways, as I was saying. Once you get her going, what she lacks in technique she makes up for with enthusiasm. Goddess, she is amazing with her mouth.” With half-lidded eyes she looked to the now even more blushing but still straight-faced alicorn and let out a low growl. “Almost makes me wish I was her student. Ooh, the tongue-lashing she could give me…” Silence. “She teleported away.” Celestia sighed, booping Chrysalis on the head. “Why must you make this so difficult, love? You could have just told her we had a tickle fight, and then you brought a cake you made.” She looked down at Chrysalis, who was looking at her almost shyly. “Of course. We can’t forget that your ego is the only thing that rivals how big of a cuddle bug you are.” She leaned down, kissing Chrysalis on the nose. “You know you will pay for that tongue-lashing joke, don’t you?” “Ooh, it was just amazing! You never guess what Cadance did for me.” Fleur looked around conspiratorially, before leaning in close to Twilight. “She brought me breakfast to bed! Not only that, she made it herself! And you know how reluctant she is to show off her cooking skills.” She sighed with pleasure. “By which you mean that there are no skills to show off.” Cadance stepped closer, a tray of milk tea and cookies floating behind her. She leaned down to kiss Fleur on the cheek, who responded with a little giggle that elicited a fond smile from Cadance. “I tried, and Fleur told me she liked it, but I doubt it was even remotely edible.” “Nonsense, ma petit equine! It was delightful! A simple meal, seasoned with love, garnished with the most beautiful mare in in all of the known kingdoms. A queen dare not dream about a feast like this!” Fleur paused for dramatic effect, while Cadance poured tea for Twilight. “But it did not end there! You see, there are always evil ponies jealous of my fortune, and they took my beloved away from me.” “...By which she means I had court business to attend to. My assistant generously offered up her day off in order to finish up that trade treaty…” “Bravely, I gave chase, finding her captured and guarded. But I would not let that detain me!” Fleur lept to her feet, striking a warrior’s pose, foreleg lifted, looking towards the horizon. “I fought like a mare maddened, and in the end, my love for my empress allowed me to triumph.” “...I’m actually impressed she could convince the guards to go along with her little play. And my assistant is really bad at acting, but she tried, bless her heart. She’s really earned her vacation…” Fleur sashayed up to Cadance, looking at her wife with seductive gaze. “And what a wonderful prize I got”, she purred, swishing her tail over Cadance’s prone form. “A kiss that a heroine deserves, oh my. And then we went out to dinner at that lovely neightalian restaurant that had just opened.” “... I couldn’t risk my heroine falling victim to another one of my cooking attempts.” Cadance coughed, a light blush sneaking its way on her cheeks. “And let’s say that Fleur really knows how to “dress to impress”” Fleur had nuzzled up to Cadance now, whispering something in french that Twilight could not make out, but which drew another giggle from Cadance. So engrossed where they that neither of them saw the flash of magic light, or noticed the absence of a certain visitor until quite a while later. “Why are you asking, Twilight Sparkle? Hearts and Hooves day just passed, so unless you are preparing a year in advance, is this not a bit late?” “Luna, darling, I believe the pony, I mean person, our dear Twilight is preparing to woo is living in the world behind the mirror portal. And she told me they celebrate on a different day. I suppose it is coming up soon?” Twilight nodded. Her third stop was the Canterlot Palace astronomy tower to visit Luna and Rarity. They were taking their usual evening stargazing-and-gossip time. Rarity smiled at the memories. “Luna was a real gentlemare”, she said, throwing her lover a smoldering gaze. “She picked me up in an amazing dress -- one of my own design, even -- and took me to the top of the Canterhorn. She had a wonderful picnic prepared and… Goodness, I had never heard you sing before. Luna, why did you keep your wonderful voice a secret for so long?” Luna smiled a bit uncertainly. “I… do not trust my voice enough to sing alone. Sometimes, I sing with my sister, a tradition we kept from long ago.” Her smile faltered. Rarity nuzzled her, soothing her through gentle caresses. “I’m sorry, my darling. I truly do think that you sound exceptionally beautiful” , she murmured. “Not that I would mind having that particular ability of yours all to myself…” She leaned in close, pressing a little kiss to Luna’s neck, drawing a little sigh from the alicorn. But before things could escalate, Twilight cleared her throat. Luna and Rarity flinched in perfect synchrony. “Ah, terribly sorry, darling. Be that as it may, we spent a wonderful evening together. Luna kept me warm with her wing, she took me on a little flight over the city…” Another blissful sigh. “And then we returned home.” Luna scraped her hoof and turned away a bit awkwardly. “Anything else”, Rarity said, “We leave to your imagination.” “Do you believe we could be of assistance?”, Luna mused after Twilight had departed. “I fear she was still as distraught as before we spoke to her.” “Don’t worry about her, Luna. Twilight is a smart mare, and she will surely figure it out.” She mock-fainted, allowing Luna to gently cradle her with a wing, laying her down by her side. She smiled. “After all, we both took our time as well.” Twilight finished the last line, lifting her quill with a little flourish. Satisfied, she looked over her neat handwriting. She regretted somewhat not being able to leave clearer instructions, but she was sure had done her best with the information she had received. Was it weird to help a villain you reformed ask out a girl that was sort of your alternate self? Twilight would have to discuss that with someone. She thought about her fellow princesses. They had all found love in unusual places. And yet, they were happy. Not just satisfied, but but truly, from-the-bottom-of-their-hearts happy. Princess Celestia and Queen Chrysalis. Princess Cadance and Fleur de lis. Princess Luna and Rarity. Princess Twilight Sparkle and… She smiled. “Are you coming?” She closed the book, feeling the slight ripple of magic as it send Twilight’s writing to a similar book, far off in another world. “Sorry, I had to finish this.” She carefully adjusted her dress, feeling a bit self-conscious, like she always did in formal wear. But as she turned and took in the “pony” waiting for her... Adagio was not very firm on her hooves. It was, after all, her first foray into being a pony, and so she kept rather close to walls and railings for support. And most of the day, her grimace told the world what exactly she thought about walking on legs. Something she had done for Twilight. “What?” Adagio huffed in annoyance as she noticed Twilight watching her. “Let’s get to the table before I destroy something. I have no idea how you ponies manage this many legs at once.” Twilight hesitated, but she knew she did not have to be afraid. “You’re beautiful.” she said fondly. Adagio’s grimace quivered, and the siren-turned-human-turned-pony could not suppress a little smile. “You’ve become quite the flirt lately. And to think that not too long ago you’d nearly faint from a little kiss.” She turned away, waiting for Twilight to come up next to her. When she did, she allowed Twilight to drape a wing over her back, leaning in slightly herself. Twilight nuzzled into the beautiful mass of mane. “It’s all thanks to you, Adagio.” She leaned forward, and Adagio met her in a kiss. They took a while before they parted. “I love you.” Adagio’s lips met hers again, sweet and gentle. “Love you too, Princess.” Together, they slowly made their way towards the dining room, towards a nice candlelight dinner, with some cuddling and reading as dessert. “Just so we’re clear: after this, we’re spending next year underwater.” Twi smiled. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Seduction in the name of Harmony (Fleur de Lis x A whole lot of innuendo)“Thank you, Raven. That will be all.” The door closed behind Celestia’s assistant, and the royal sisters were alone in Celestia’s study. Three pillows had been arranged around the low table, which held three sets of fine ceramic cups and saucers, along with a small plate and dessert fork. In the middle of the table was a mouth-watering strawberry cheesecake and a rather large teapot, from which a pleasant scent of jasmine wafted. Celestia took a deep breath and smiled. “Ms. Goodness really outdid herself with this one,” she sighed happily as she took in the smell of her favorite cake. Just the anticipation of the first bite made her giddy. Luna shook her head at her. “It is no wonder our subjects call you “cake-devil,” sister. If it weren’t for the sun sapping your energy, I’d wager you would be as round as my moon right now!” “Oh, hush. I have a stressful job, and I deserve all the relaxation I can get. And good food,” she pointedly cut a piece from the cake with a burst of magic, “is one of the highest pleasures there is.” “If you say so, sister. Perhaps I have gotten the wrong impression that you spend your day manipulating others into doing your work for you.” Luna followed the piece of cake with her eyes, as Celestia floated it to Luna’s plate. She, in turn, levitated the teapot towards her sister’s cup, who gratefully dipped her head as Luna poured the tea. “Now, before you lose yourself in your cake, tell me more about this mysterious spymaster of yours.” Celestia took a long sip from her cup. “She is… not a typical spymaster,” she said, after a few moments. “In fact, if I had not shown you her record, you would probably not expect her to be capable in clandestine operations at all.” Luna nodded her approval. If a spymaster seemed like a “typical” spymaster, they probably weren’t very good at their job. And she had always preferred the females of her batwing elite as her spies. They tended to get underestimated, something which could give an advantage at the most crucial times. She had looked at the record, and there had been one thing that had intrigued her. “Her records do speak for themselves. But, sister, if you allow, why is she only deployed against female targets? Would her male colleague not be better suited for most of them?” Celestia sighed, somewhat exasperatedly this time. “That is one of her… quirks. In fact, I believe...” She was interrupted by a knock on the door. “Well, here she is now,” she said. And louder, “Come in, Fleur!” The door opened, and in stepped a goddess of a mare. Her coat was white, with just the slightest hint of rosè, and her soft, silky mane was a light pink. She was tall, nearly matching the most imposing stallions of the royal guard. Her body was svelte, though, with just the barest hint of well-toned muscle, the kind that Luna associated with gymnasts and dancers. Luna could see how this mare could gain entrance to every heart and bed she desired. And yet, her gaze was open and honest, in a way that did not seem fake to Luna. Sure, technically, it was possible that the mare was being deceitful even now. But she looked like the kind of mare who wanted to enjoy life, and loved the world around her. The mare sauntered closer, closing in on Celestia without hesitation. “Hello, Fleur,” Celestia said, “I’m glad that you could m--” She did not get further, as Fleur leaned in and gave her a slightly-more-than-just-polite kiss on the cheek. Luna raised her eyebrow. Usually, she, Cadance and Twilight were the only ponies who Celestia allowed close to her, but... Celestia actually smiled! She flicked her wing playfully against the mare, who giggled and retreated a half-step. The last noble who had attempted to kiss Celestia without asking had spent his next few months in the hospital! “A pleasure as always, my princess,” Fleur replied, bowing deeply. She smiled at Celestia, then turned her attention to the other alicorn in the room. Luna quickly got up, prepared to widen the distance, but Fleur merely bowed to her deeply, not even raising her eyes to look at the princess. It was a surprising adherence to rarely-enforced protocol. This mare knew what she was doing. “Luna, meet Fleur de lis. Model and Royal Spymaster of the Sun. Fleur, this is Princess Luna, my sister.” Protocol was protocol. “It is an honor to meet you, Spymaster. You may rise,” Luna said, inclining her head to acknowledge the bow. “My sister has a high regard for you, and your record is outstanding. I admit I did not expect a famous model to be an agent for the crown.” It was refreshing to meet someone who still knew royal etiquette. After all, Luna had heard that it was a custom in some countries to greet a familiar person with cheek kisses. Fleur languidly rose from her deep bow. Luna watched, enraptured, as the mare shifted her weight to her hindquarters, pulling her entire torso up easily without using her forelegs as support. A subtle ripple ran through Fleur’s body. “It’s an honor to meet you too, your highness. Your sister told me about you in great length. “ Her smile broadened a little. “I am certainly pleased we will be working together more from now on.” “Fleur, I would appreciate if you would not hit on my sister while I am here.” Luna turned her head towards Celestia, brow furrowed. “What are you talking about, sister? She has not struck me at all.” She smiled at Fleur. “I am pleased to be spending more time with you as well. I did not even consider how useful a modelling career would be to disguise your movement among different countries! No one would ever suspect someone in the center of attention to be a spy! And your skill in makeup and clothing allows you to blend in everywhere!” “Thank you, Princess!” Fleur giggled. “I enjoy my job. I get to go on thrilling adventures and meet the most intriguing ponies.” She struck a daring pose, rearing up on her hind legs and angling her forelegs. “And I can do my part for the good of Equestria! Not to mention getting to talk to our charming rulers. Not many ponies can enjoy that particular pleasure.” She fluttered her eyelashes at Celestia. “Fleur! My sister is here!” Fleur landed easily on all fours again. She inclined her head quizzically. “That is not really a problem. In fact, on my recent assignment, I passed through Ponyville, and there is the most lovely pair of twin sisters running the local spa. Can you imagine what they--” Celestia coughed loudly. “Fleur, I am sure this is a wonderful story, but maybe it would be best to postpone it--” “Sister, don’t interrupt her! I want to hear this. Spy stories have always been very interesting to me!” Fleur had just opened her mouth, but a glowing yellow rope tied it shut. “We’ll leave this for another time,” Celestia said firmly, pointedly ignoring Luna’s pout. “We still have business to attend to, and Fleur needs her time. She is a very…” a blush stole onto her muzzle. Just the faintest hint of pink, but Luna caught it nonetheless. “She is a very lively storyteller, and I am sure she has many, ah, interesting stories to tell you at a later time.” Luna was still staring at Celestia. After a couple of seconds of awkwardness, and Celestia releasing Fleur from the rope (the unicorn did a weird purring noise that made Celestia sputter), Luna turned to the model. “My sister is not easily to fluster. If your storytelling manages to achieve this, you must be quite the skilled orator!” This time, Fleur was ready. She leaned to the side, dodging the next rope and skipping a few steps towards Luna. She smirked at the alicorn. “Oh, yes. Not to be a braggart, but mares all across Equestria praise my oral skills.” “Fleur!” “Truely? ‘Tis a feat to be proud of, to have one’s fame spread far across the land. Once upon a time, I had a similar reputation.” Luna nodded sagely. “I would love to match my tongue with yours, if you’d be willing.” “Oh, it would be my pleasure/i], Princess!” “I am sure we can find a fitting date. I would prefer a nightly meeting, if you’d be willing. Maybe we could have some dinner first before moving up to my room.” Fleur leaned in, judging the situation to be appropriate, and touched her head to Luna’s shoulder. “Oh, that sounds marvelous. Feel free to contact me with a date that works best for you. I’ll clear my schedule.” Luna giggled at the contact. “As soon as possible, Fleur de lis.” “Are you two quite done?” Celestia’s voice interrupted the excited exchange. “Fleur, I really wish you’d… This is Saddle Arabia all over again.” Fleur skipped towards her a few steps, crossing her forelegs. “But Princess, that was an accident,” she mock-pouted. “Who could have known that she was watching me while--” “AS I WAS SAYING. Fleur, we have called you today for a very specific reason, and we need to get this out of the way. Everyone in favor? Good.” ~#~ The cheesecake was nearly gone, as was the tea. Fleur was a professional, and she knew when to focus, so the actual meeting went very well. “So, this “Dark Master” is the leader of the cult? Princess, wouldn’t Fancy Pants be the choice to deal with a stallion?” “We believe him to merely be a figurehead. He spends his time posing and telling his followers about his skill and dark, mysterious past. We believe his daughter is the true leader. Officially, she is his advisor, but apparently, all the orders are submitted through her. Our contacts say she is the one to suggest them in the first place. So--” “I’ll take her out, and the cultist should disperse eventually. Perfect!” Fleur clapped her hooves together. “I’ll leave in three days. Maybe she just needs a friend.” Celestia shook her head. “Or maybe she needs something else…” she said quietly, but apparently not quietly enough. Fleurs ears flicked in her direction, but she didn’t say anything. She stood up, turned to the royal sisters, and bowed deeply. “I will take my leave now, Princesses. It was a real pleasure meeting you, Princess Luna. “ She nodded towards the younger sister. “ And, of course, always lovely, Princess Celestia.” She inclined her head, never taking her eyes of the older sister. She turned and pranced towards the door, mane and tail bouncing behind her. Celestia lifted her hoof to her temple. Her poor sister would be in for a surprise. Well. Fleur probably knew what was going on, so she would not do anything untoward. She just hoped it would not ruin Fleur’s standing in Luna’s eyes. She looked over to her sister, who was looking after Fleur thoughtfully. “Oh, one moment, Fleur de lis”, Luna called. Fleur, who had already taken telekinetic hold of the door, ceased her magic and turned around. “I forgot one detail for our meeting. I have been away for a while, and my inventory is not quite up to date. Shall I acquire some of those rubber tools and accessories that are sold in some businesses now?” Celestia’s mouth fell open. “No need, princess. I can bring some of my own, but I much prefer the hooves-on-approach.” Fleur giggled, then blew a kiss towards Luna. “I have a reputation to keep! Ta!” And with that, she was out of the door, leaving an excited Luna and a dumbstruck Celestia in her wake. “You… you knew?” Was all Celestia could stutter after a minute of silence. Luna rolled her eyes. “Of course I knew. She was not really subtle, now, was she. As for you, will you join us on our date, or will you be a spoilsport? Judging from previous patterns, my guess is that you have not been bedded in a few centuries.” “...It was just two centuries,” Celestia admitted meekly. But the thought of her cheeky spymistress in the royal bed, shivering as white and dark blue hooves danced over her perfect… Celestia coughed. “Very well. But if you usurp the little spoon position, there will be political consequences.” Luna just shook her head. “Oh sister. Deep inside, you have always been the little spoon.”
Paint (Rarity/Twilight)The scream was bone-chilling. One second, Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, was happily reading a book on the finer points of large scale production technology, the next she was scrambling to her hooves, galloping as fast as she could to the bathroom from where she had heard the familiar voice. When she flung the door open, she was confronted by her beloved wife, Rarity, frantically searching through the cupboard below the sink while feverishly muttering to herself. "Rarity? What happened?", Twilight called. She had noticed Rarity's makeup running, dragging black lines from her eyes over her cheek, a clear sign that the unicorn had been crying. When Rarity noticed Twilight standing in the doorway, she stopped in the middle of her search. Slowly, fearfully, she turned around, and when she saw her wife, her lip started quivering and her eyes filled with tears. "Nooo! You cannot see me like this! I am hideous!" Rarity tried in vain to close the door with her magic, but Twilight held strong. At this pitiful sight, Twilight stepped inside the room, quickly moving over to her wife and drawing her in a hug. "Shh", she whispered, rubbing her hooves over Rarity's back, kissing her cheek. "You are not hideous. You are beautiful and I love you." "Look at this", Rarity screeched, grasping a strand of her hair for Twilight to see. "Grey! My hair is turning grey!" She wrapped her hooves around Twilight, sobbing all the while. "You have to divorce me! A princess cannot be seen with an old hag like me!" Twilight leaned in, examining the strand of hair carefully. She lifted her hoof and nudged the offending grey patch. "A princess should be with someone who can support her! Soon I will be brittle and weak, and you will have to take care of me all the time..." "Rarity..." "You have to start searching for someone who can replace me. I know for a fact that there are dozens of mares who will salivate at the thought of having you for themselves..." "Rarity?" "It will break my heart into a thousand little pieces, but I simply cannot burden you any longer. I will..." "Rarity!" Twilight had to raise her voice to draw her wife's attention, but she succeeded. "This is paint. We passed by the northern gate earlier, and they are painting over a crack in the ceiling!" As proof, she raised her hoof, which had some grey flaky dust drifting of it. For a moment, Rarity went quiet. She looked at the hoof, at her mane, at the hoof again and finally at Twilight. "Just paint?" She asked cautiously. Twilight nodded. "I am not old?" This time, Twilight sighed. "Rarity, you are four hundred and sixteen years old. That would probably qualify you as "ancient": But even if you were still mortal, there is no way I would ever replace you." She moved her head forward slowly and brushed her lips over Rarity's. "And now, love, go to bed." A mischievous grin spread over her muzzle. "Old mares need their sleep." Rarity hit her over the head with a hairbrush.
Cuddles (Twilight/Fluttershy)Fluttershy used to think that the company of her animals was all she needed in the evening. She loved her friends, truly, but when the nights grew colder, there was nothing better in the evening than to snuggle up under a blanket, a cup of hot cocoa and one of Rarity’s romance novels in reach, and to enjoy this oasis of warmth and the noise of the animals around the house. But lately, things had changed. A few weeks ago, a brief case of flu had seen Fluttershy bedridden. It had been Twilight who had volunteered to stay over, what with her princess duties being few and far between. Over the couple of days, Fluttershy had grown used to the soft breathing of Twilight, the slight rustle whenever the studious alicorn flipped her page, the little sigh she gave whenever she finished a chapter… Not to mention the warmth. The warmth of another body, the soft coat and feathers brushing her own... She blushed at the thought. “Fluttershy, are you okay?” Twilight half-whispered, closing her book and leaning in closer in concern. The alicorn sat lay next to her on the couch, wing draped over Fluttershy’s back. Fluttershy could not hide a little embarrassed giggle (the feathers tickling her were certainly not helping). Boldy, she leaned a bit closer into the warmth encompassing her, eliciting a blush from her dorky blanket. “Don’t worry, Twilight,” she whispered. “Everything is just perfect.”
